Effects of lithium chloride on microstructure of femoral head in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head
LI Yunchu
SUN Ping
XU Gang
XU Chengfu
Abstract：Objective To investigate the effect of lithium chloride on microstructure of femoral head in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (S-ONFH) and its significance.Methods Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into the blank control group, model group and lithium chloride group, with 10 rats in each group.In the lithium chloride group and model group, we used escherichia coli endotoxin combined with large dose of steroid shock to make the rat models of the S-ONFH.At 24 h after the last injection of steroid, rats in the lithium chloride group were given lithium chloride (140 mg/kg) by gavage, 1 time per day for 8 weeks.Rats in the model group and the blank group were given equal amount of normal saline.Rats were sacrificed and HE staining was performed on the right femoral head.Histopathological changes and necrosis of the femoral head were observed.The left femoral head was used for micro CT examination, and each bone mineral density (BMD), bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular space (Tb.Sp), trabecular bone number (Tb.N), trabecular bone thickness (Tb.Th) were recorded.Results HE staining showed that the trabecular bone in the blank group was complete and regularly arranged, and the bone lacunae were filled with bone cells;the trabecular bone in the model group was disorder, narrow, and fractured, and the marked necrosis of bone widely existed in the empty bone lacunae;the trabecular bone shape in the lithium chloride group was better without obvious stenosis or fracture.However, there were empty bone lacuna in the lithium chloride group which was less than that in the model group.In the blank control group, model group and lithium chloride group, 0, 8 (80%) and 3 (30%) rats with femoral head necrosis were found, respectively (all P<0.05).Compared with the blank control group, the Tb.N and Tb.Th of the model group and the lithium chloride group were all decreased, Tb.Sp was increased, but these in the model group expressed more significantly (all P<0.05), the BMD and BV/TV in the model group was lower than that of the the blank control group and lithium chloride group (all P<0.05).Conclusion Lithium chloride can increase the bone mass of S-ONFH rat femoral head and improve its microstructure, and it has a protective effect on the femoral head.
Keywords：steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (S-ONFH)lithium chloridebone massbone microstructurerats
Publication Date：2017-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：4( 16-19 )